I walked into the four-hour concert called “Unveiling Uniqueness 2” feeling excited, because this wasn’t just any musical evening. Hosted by Musicians for Musicians (MFM) together with Music Mart, and supported by Yayasan Sime Darby and The British International School Kuala Lumpur (BISKL), this stage was for people with special needs — young and adult performers who have autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, vision or hearing impairments, and more.

As the lights dimmed, the whole auditorium burst into the opening number: the singers, young and older, came together and launched into “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Right there I felt it: music as a bridge, not a barrier.

Unveiling Uniqueness – A Unique Story

I watched artiste after artiste bring their own story. One singer from Sarawak, Emily Chai, flew in especially to deliver with strength — I heard her sing “Gemilang”. Then there was a little powerhouse group, Magika — children aged 7-12 who are hearing and speech-impaired — performing with sign language rhythm to a K-pop track and a local favourite song. It was moving beyond words.

On stage too were established stars: Francissca Peter and Frankie Tan. Francissca sang “Sekadar di Pinggiran” and “Step by Step” and danced with the special-needs artistes. She said she feels the special ones “are better than me” in many ways, and hoped more people support their talent. Frankie Tan — who has polio and is known for his country songs — performed “Forever Young” and got the crowd cheering.

One moment stuck with me: the bass and drums faded, the lights softened, and the words of Aidel Rahman Morshidi rang out after the opening piece. He presented flowers to Francissca. He danced with such joy. He reminded the audience that capability is not defined by disability.

Then there was petite Siti Nur Aisyah Shahimee who danced all alone on the big stage, yet nothing seems to faze her, as though she was born to be on stage.

The Volunteering Committee

Behind the scenes, people like Edwin Nathaniel (Chair of the organising committee) and Hasnah Abdul Rahman (committee member) emphasised that music is a universal language, and that this event is more than entertainment — it’s about giving voice, shining light, and celebrating diversity.

The other committee members, Dr Tan Swee Chuan, Rosalind Khoo, Tan Li-Ling, Cindy Deborah Vyner and Sonia Kirby worked tirelessly, voluntarily, behind the scene. I saw them running after the performers who, for some of them, when they are off stage, can be different than their on-stage personae. This brings a whole new level to the word voluntarism. They were artistically introduced to the audience during the song Volare where some of the musicians were on wheelchairs wearing Mexican hats and the music got everyone moving to the beat.

Perfect

There was a little bazaar too — special-needs entrepreneurs were selling food, handicrafts and handmade items before the concert kicked off. It felt right: a celebration of creativity, empowerment and togetherness. 

By the end of the night, as everyone joined on stage to sing “Tomorrow” and “RISE!”, I realised this wasn’t just music. It was unity, hope, and heart. The special-needs performers weren’t just guests on stage — they were the stars. I left remembering that diversity is not a limitation; it’s our strength. – NMH

The post Unveiling Uniqueness: A Concert That Redefined What Talent Looks Like first appeared on NMH.

Kehadiran pemuzik dari golongan Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) bukanlah suatu fenomena baru. Namun usaha secara tersusun dan rapi kebelakangan ini oleh persatuan Musicians for Musicians (MFM) untuk membawa muzik OKU ke dalam muzik arus perdana harus dipuji. Berikutan kejayaan Unveiling Uniqueness pertama pada 2024, mereka yang membuat persembahan pada masa itu sangat teruja untuk mengadakan sebuah persembahan susulan.

Dalam masa empat jam acara Unveiling Uniqueness 2 berlangsung, menampilkan barisan 45 orang pennggiat seni luar biasa ; terdiri daripada penyanyi, pemain alat muzik dan penari yang masing-masing mempunyai sifat kelainan tersendiri.

Dipersembahkan oleh Musicians for Musicians (MF) dengan kerjasama Music Mart, dan ditaja bersama oleh Yayasan Sime Darby serta The British International School Kuala Lumpur (BISKL) selaku penaja tempat, konsert ini menampilkan kreativiti tanpa batasan daripada para penggiat seni yang berkeperluan khas — termasuk individu autisme, ADHD, Sindrom Down, palsi serebrum, masalah penglihatan, masalah pendengaran, dan lain-lain.

Program malam itu menampilkan persembahan hebat oleh pemuzik muda dan dewasa dari seluruh Malaysia, bersama artis tempatan terkenal Datuk Francissca Peter dan Frankie Tan.

Daripada piano klasik ke ensembel rock dan persembahan perkusi, konsert ini mentakrifkan semula makna bersatu melalui muzik — membuktikan bahawa bakat dan semangat melangkaui keupayaan fizikal dan mental.

Unveiling Uniqueness – Persembahan Yang Penuh Kreativiti

Persembahan bermula dengan nyanyian lagu ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ oleh semua penyanyi sebagai pembuka tirai. Nyanyian mereka begitu bersemangat, yang bakal menjanjikan hiburan selama empat jam yang begitu mantap untuk para penonton.

Antara persembahan yang diadakan adalah selepas lagu pertama, penonton dipukau pula dengan nyanyian ‘old soul’ oleh Lucas Law, lagu bertajuk ‘Everything’ dan kemudian ‘Gemilang’ oleh Emily Chai yang diterbangkan dari Sarawak, tempat asal beliau menetap. Sarah Ow menyanyikan lagu ‘A Thousand Years’ dan Siti Nor Aishah menari mengikut rentak lagu ‘Dont Let Me Down’. All boys band, Zimi’J kemudiannya muncul dengan lagu retro ‘Summer of 69’. Raees Aryan pula memainkan piano dan menyanyikan lagu “Syurga itu Mahal”, sebuah lagu yang sangat bermakna untuk mereka yang dianugerahkan dengan anak2 istimewa.

Yang tidak mudah dilupakan, walaupun kemunculan hanya sebentar, adalah Aidel Rahman Morshidi, macam seorang ‘rock star’ dengan gaya menari dan pakaian topi dan skaf yang sangat ‘cool’. Dia adalah seorang yang bukan sahaja boleh menyanyi tetapi juga merupakan seorang penulis ‘freelance’ untuk New Malaysia Herald. Bagi UU2 kali ini, Aidel dipilih untuk memberikan kata-kata aluan kepada para penonton selepas lagu pembuka ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Beliau juga seorang yang paling ‘berani’ kerana memberi bunga kepada Datuk Francissca Peter semasa beliau menyanyikan lagu ‘Sekadar di Pinggiran’ yang merupakan salah satu lagu kegemarannya.

Selama lebih kurang empat jam, para penonton telah di hiburkan oleh lebih kurang 15 buah persembahan pelbagai ritma dan genre.

Di pertengahan acara, kumpulan MAGIKA hadir dengan persembahan yang amat menyentuh hati. Mereka adalah anak anak comel berumur antara 7-12 tahun yang mempunyai masalah pendengaran dan percakapan, tetapi mampu untuk membuat persembahan tarian sambil berbahasa isyarat dan pilihan mereka adalah lagu Golden ‘KPop Demon Hunter’ dan satu lagi lagu Datuk Siti Nurhaliza.

Muzik Adalah Bahasa Universal

“Muzik adalah bahasa yang menyatukan kita semua,” kata Edwin Nathaniel, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Unveiling Uniqueness 2 dan pengasas Music Mart. “Setiap irama, setiap nota malam ini mengingatkan kita bahawa inklusiviti bukan hanya idea — ia sesuatu yang dapat kita rasa, dengar, dan raikan bersama.”

Bagi Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman pula, salah seorang ahli jawatankuasa penganjur konsert, acara ini lebih daripada sekadar persembahan — ia adalah gerakan empati dan pemerkasaan insan-insan istimewa.

“Unveiling Uniqueness 2 ialah tentang memberi suara kepada mereka yang sering tidak didengari, dan menyinarkan cahaya pada kebolehan luar biasa mereka. Persembahan malam ini adalah untuk mengingatkan kita bahawa kepelbagaian bukanlah satu bentuk kekangan — ia adalah kekuatan kita untuk membentuk keharmonian.”

Jawatankuasa penganjur terdiri daripada sukarelawan yang berdedikasi, datang daripada latar belakang berbeza tetapi berkongsi satu keyakinan: bahawa muzik mampu menyatukan, mengangkat, dan mengubah kehidupan. Komitmen mereka mengingatkan bahawa impak sebenar tidak digerakkan oleh tugas, tetapi oleh kasih sayang dan semangat terhadap tujuan tersebut.

Kehadiran Penyanyi Undangan

Seperti dikata tadi, bagi menambahkan seri di majlis, pihak penganjur turut mengundang penyanyi tersohor tanahair Datuk Francissca Peter dan penghibur penghidap polio Frankie Tan sebagai artis undangan.

Kedua-dua artit jemputan ini teruja berkongsi pentas dan diberi juga kehormatan berganding dengan penghibur istimewa yang sangat luarbiasa bakatnya.

Bagi Francissca, beliau begitu berbesar hati dan berharap agar insan-insan istimewa ini dibantu dan diberi peluang agar bakat mereka digilapkan lagi sebagaimana diberikan kepada artis-artis lain.

“Mereka begitu istimewa, dan saya berharap mereka yang di luar sana akan turun membantu mengetengahkan bakat insan-insan ini. Bersama mereka, saya merasakan mereka adalah penghibur yang lebih baik daripada saya dan berharap mereka akan terus lebih maju mengikut bakat seni masing-masing,” ujarnya. Pada malam UU2, beliau menyanyikan lagu popular ‘Sekadar di Pinggiran’, di mana lagu tersebut telah menjadi lagu terbaik dalam Anugerah Juara Lagu 1986, dan Asean Song Festival pada tahun 1987. Selepas itu beliau mendendangkan lagu Step by Step, dan sebab lagu tersebut sangat rancak, penghibur2 istimewa terus ke pentas untuk menari dengan mereka.

Bagi Frankie Tan, malam UU2 sangat mengujakan kerana beliau dapat bersama bakat-bakat muda yang istimewa. Beliau yang menghidapi polio adalah seorang penyanyi yang tersohor dengan nyanyian lagu-lagu ‘country’ bersama guitar kapok. Pada malam UU2, beliau mempersembahkan lagu ‘Forever Young’, nyanyian asal Bob Dylan.

“Saya gembira, kerana pada hari ini saya menyanyi untuk para hadirin yang menghargai musik dan memberi sokongan padu kepada pemusik-pemusik dari golongan istimewa,” ujarnya sebelum memulakan petikan guitar yang disertai dengan tepukan gemuruh penonton.

Selain pentas utama, Unveiling Uniqueness 2 turut menganjurkan Bazaar oleh Komuniti Berkeperluan Khas, menampilkan makanan, kraf, dan produk buatan tangan oleh usahawan OKU. Pengunjung digalakkan memberi sokongan dengan berbelanja di bazaar sebelum konsert bermula pada hari tersebut.

Detik kemuncak malam tersebut adalah persembahan penutup Tomorrow dan RISE! — kolaborasi bertenaga nyanyian beramai-ramai antara Francissca dan semua penggiat seni, melambangkan ketabahan, perpaduan, dan harapan untuk insan-insan khas di luar sana. – NMH

The post Unveiling Uniqueness 2, Meraikan Kepelbagaian Melalui Muzik first appeared on NMH.

PETALING JAYA – To some of us, the loss of a limb or denied of the ability to hear and see may make us withdraw from the world and just wallow in depression and self-pity. But for these amazing four adults, they sharpened their other senses and are all set to sparkle at the forthcoming Unveiling Uniqueness concert (Unique) on Saturday, 13 July to be held at the Menara BAC here.

For Natalia Lee Jia En, Ong Boo Siong, Thomas Alvin Cross and Louis Prem Kumar and their fellow performers, it is all systems go, with rehearsals taking place at Music Mart here weekly, perfecting their routines and streamlining the chords.

The four are among the 50 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) performers and musicians that will be in the spotlight on Saturday evening, belting perennial and modern hits at the Omnia Auditorium from 7pm onwards.

Organised by Musicians for Musicians, it is sponsored by Seadale Malaysia and jointly supported by the BAC Education Group, Music Mart, and Nak Seni, Unique comprises two sessions: during the day, an expo with workshops and mini performances organised by PWD advocacy group Nak Seni, while in the evening, a concert, “Unveiling Uniqueness – A Musical Celebration of Diversity” will showcase musicians with different abilities, supported by professional local musicians.

The Unveiling Uniqueness Stage

“We see ‘Unveiling Uniqueness’ not only as a stage for showcasing talent but also as a platform for individuals with disabilities to share their challenges, past and present,” organising chairman Edwin Nathaniel from Music Mart said recently.

For Thomas Alvin Cross, he realises that everybody always say that everyone has problems, but few will sit back and reflect on how life’s problems can vary between individuals.

For many, they are facing the unthinkable. For some, the impact is severe when it involves the sudden loss of a limb.

How does one cope with that? Well, for Thomas, it is no biggie.

The gentleman who hails from Ipoh rose up to the challenge and slowly grew within him a wealth of experience to share on how life can still be beautiful despite the trauma of losing a leg. DJ Cross was once Thomas Alvin Cross. He was the common joe excelling in the hotel line.

Graduating from Stamford College, he was working in hotel management in a few positions in Singapore, namely for Pine-tree Club, Oriental Hotel. Until a sudden car accident caused critical damage to his leg.

The Great Purpose

The date was 31 August 1997. This was in the late-90s, where he climbed back up with a great purpose, his passion for music, he was a regular music expresser at Iguana’s, it was here that he met DJ John Apache his mentor and started training with him. And the rest, they say, is history.

For 61 year old J. Louis Prem Kumar, his journey with vision and hearing loss began at age seven, gradually leading to reliance on a white cane and hearing aids. Despite these challenges, his passion for music ignited at 10 when introduced to Melodica.

“By 14, I transitioned to braille education, later receiving musical training both locally and abroad.

Teaching Music

“Throughout my career as a keyboardist, I performed at prestigious events and taught music to diverse age groups,” Louis told NMH.

In the early 2000s, he debuted his rap composition, “Environment,” and received a Yamaha keyboard in 2023, catalysing his musical journey.

Collaborating with a friend, he ventured into rap and composed for his niece in the UK.

Despite certain obstacles, his aim is to spread joy through music, offering soothing melodies and popular tunes with his unique one-man band setup.

Louis invites us to follow his musical journey on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@louispremkumar463.

From Shah Alam comes 11-year-old Natalia Lee Jia En, a Standard Six student at SKPK Jalan Batu, Kuala Lumpur.

Confident Pianist

Natalie has been playing the piano since she was five years old. Initially shy, she has grown into a confident pianist who netted first place in a piano competition in 2023 amongst able-bodied contestants in Setia Alam.

Natalia has had the privilege of performing in front of distinguished guests including Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the spouse of the current Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as well as Fadhlina Sidek, the current Education Minister of Malaysia.

Ong Boo Siong was born with a partially formed right hand, possessing only two fingers and limited mobility. Despite facing ridicule from peers when attempting to play guitar in high school, he persisted, teaching himself to strum with determination.

Transitioning from a career in IT and teaching to becoming a motivational speaker, Ong incorporates guitar performances into his sessions, inspiring audiences nationwide.

Motivational Speaker

Despite lacking formal musical training, his passion shines through as he utilises innovative methods to engage listeners. Since 2009, he has conducted over 3,000 motivational talks, driving across Malaysia to reach diverse audiences, earning recognition including the Ten Outstanding Young Malaysian Award in 2013 and the MyHero2.0 Award in 2016.

In 2019, he was honoured with the Unsung Hero medal. Presently, Ong endeavours to publish a poetry book designed to aid visually impaired readers and dyslexic individuals, seeking support for this innovative project. He is currently seeking funding to realise this project and hopes those willing to help can contact him at 016212008.

Tickets for Saturday’s concert are currently being sold with limited seats left available. Details of the concert and ticket sales are as follows:

When:
Saturday, 13 July

• 10am-6pm (expo/workshops)
• 7pm-10pm (concert)

Where:

• Horizon Hall (expo/workshops)
• Omnia Auditorium (concert)

Menara BAC,
52, Jalan Utara, Section 52,
46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Tickets:

• RM70 (lower level)
• RM50 (upper level)

Get your tickets by clicking here. You may also donate directly to their cause; for further information, contact Musicians for Musicians via Facebook or Instagram. – NMH

The post Unveiling Uniqueness Concert Puts Different Abilities In The Spotlight first appeared on NMH.

PETALING JAYA – Persons With Disabilities (PWD) from all across Malaysia will be showcasing their talents when Unveiling Uniqueness (Unique) takes centrestage on 13 July at Menara BAC here.

With this event, it is hoped that the talent of these performers can be highlighted and given equal footing in the music industry and publicly acknowledged for their respective competitive intelligence.

Organised by Musicians for Musicians, it is sponsored by Seadale Malaysia and jointly supported by the BAC Education Group, Music Mart, and Nak Seni, Unique comprises two sessions: during the day, an expo with workshops and mini performances organised by PWD advocacy group Nak Seni, while in the evening, a concert, “Unveiling Uniqueness – A Musical Celebration of Diversity” will showcase musicians with different abilities, supported by professional local musicians.

Unveiling Uniqueness A Platform For Showcasing Talents and Challenges

“We see ‘Unveiling Uniqueness’ not only as a stage for showcasing talent but also as a platform for individuals with disabilities to share their challenges, past and present,” organising chairman Edwin Nathaniel from Music Mart said at a press conference recently.

“By providing this opportunity, we aim to raise awareness about the obstacles they face and highlight their resilience.

“Moreover, we believe that by amplifying their voices, we can contribute to creating a future where their experiences are understood and accommodated, fostering a more inclusive society for all.”

According to Edwin, the expo will feature vendors comprising entrepreneurs and businesses from the PWD community who are involved in the creative arts. These include writers, music teachers, artists and artisans.

There will also be panel discussions on topics such as “Expectation vs Purpose: How to Nurture Children with Creative Potential”, as well as an interactive drum circle.

For the concert, Edwin shared that a call for audition videos had been circulated among the PWD community through support groups, NGOs and schools.

Auditions

They subsequently received close to 100 applicants, including from as far as Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak.

After much deliberation, 33 talents were selected – from newbies like Aidel Rahman Morshidi to the internationally acclaimed Clarence Kang. Others include Abigail Ang Huey Vern, Hew Zi Xuan, Louis Prem Kumar, Ong Boo Siong, Raees Aryan, Stephanie Tam, and the bands R.A.A.Z.E and Zimi’ J.

Clarence is a savant pianist with autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactive disorders. He has showcased his talents in competitions and performances worldwide, from Malaysia and Singapore to Canada, Korea, Hong Kong, China and Shanghai.

During infancy, Clarence was able to read books and recognise difficult vocabularies. However, he had very little eye contact and did not respond well to people, which brought to his diagnosis. Clarence, a self-taught pianist since age 10, displays remarkable skill in music. He adeptly reads music, memorises pieces effortlessly, transcribes, and analyses intricate chords.

Then there is Sarah Ow who plays the guitar and sings professionally, yet enjoys performing as it is a way for her to interact with the public at large. Like any young adult, she enjoys going out with friends, both neurodiverse and neurotypical, but her life is centred on her music.

Sarah’s love for music started when she was a baby, finding solace in melodies that rocked her to sleep. Remarkably, singing came naturally to her before she even formed sentences, revealing her innate talent. With the discovery of her Perfect Pitch, a rarity found in only 1 in 10,000 individuals, Sarah’s musical prowess became evident. Along with this gift, Sarah was diagnose with Autism, but it did not bar her from moving forward with this gift.

For Aidel Rahman Morshidi, 22, he was pleasantly surprised to be one of those selected to perform after singing a few songs and sending the video to the committee for their consideration. An accomplished writer with high functioning Asperger Syndrome, singing is a hobby which he never took seriously until he had a few invitations to perform at concerts. He had a few training sessions at Music Mart, but could not continue due to family issues, but the few lessons he took gave him encouragement to proceed further in this field.

Despite his age, his genre of music ranges from the perennial of the 80s and 90s to the latest hits.

All proceeds from the concert and donations will be directed towards Musicians for Musicians for the benefit and promotion of PWD musicians.

“By witnessing the performances and stories of individuals with disabilities, we aim to challenge preconceived notions and inspire empathy and understanding,” Edwin added.

“Ultimately, we hope that the audience will leave with a sense of inclusivity, and a recognition of the value that each person – regardless of ability – brings to our collective tapestry of humanity.”

‘Unveiling Uniqueness: A Musical Celebration of Diversity’

When:
Saturday, 13 July

• 10am-6pm (expo/workshops)
• 7pm-10pm (concert)

Where:

• Horizon Hall (expo/workshops)
• Omnia Auditorium (concert)

Menara BAC,
52, Jalan Utara, Section 52,
46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Tickets:

• RM70 (lower level)
• RM50 (upper level)

Get your tickets by clicking here. You may also donate directly to their cause; for further information, contact Musicians for Musicians via Facebook or Instagram. – NMH

The post ‘Unveiling Uniqueness’ A Platform For Neurodiverse Talents first appeared on NMH.

The Netflix series 3 Body Problem is based on this novel. What is interesting about this story is that is not your regular in-your-face alien attack style of storytelling. At it’s core it comes across as more like a murder mystery thriller that you slowly absorb and savour. And since it’s a Chinese storyteller, there are no Americans blowing stuff up to save the world.

3 Body Problem scores a nice plump 77% on Rotten Tomatoes if you need any form of convincing. But I urge you to get into it and enjoy the ride. There are 8 episodes in Season 1 with Season 2 is more than likely to be greenlit understanding how popular the series has become in a short period of time.

The post 3 Body Problem Is A Must-Watch Streaming first appeared on NMH.

Mourners gathered at the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, less than a mile from the Warner Brothers studio where ‘Friends’, which starred the lovable actor Matthew Perry, was filmed. It is also the final resting place of numerous Hollywood A-listers including Michael Jackson, Lucille Ball and Elizabeth Taylor.

Perry, who played wise-cracking Chandler Bing on Friends from 1994 to 2004, was found dead in his Los Angeles home, generating an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow celebrities.

The five surviving co-stars of the show paid tribute on Monday to their fallen castmate in a joint message lamenting his death as an “unfathomable loss”.

Media including TMZ and the New York Post‘s Page Six reported Friday’s event, posting long-distance and aerial photographs of people in attendance.

All five Friends co-stars – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer – were there, TMZ said.

Page Six said Perry’s father, John Bennett Perry, and his stepfather, Keith Morrison, were also there.

In all, about 20 people dressed in black attended and gathered around a burial plot, TMZ said.

Forest Hills did not respond to a Reuters request for confirmation.

Joint Statement

The Friends co-stars issued a joint statement on Tuesday, saying they were “utterly devastated by the loss”, adding that they would have more to say in time.

The cause and manner of Perry’s death are to be determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, following completion of an autopsy with toxicology tests.

Perry’s death came one year after publication of his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which chronicled his decades-long struggle with addiction to prescription painkillers and alcohol. At the time, Perry said he had been sober for about 18 months.

Also on Friday, a foundation in Perry’s name was launched to support people struggling with addiction. The Matthew Perry Foundation “will honour his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible”, according its website.

The website leads with a quote from Perry that says, “When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.” – Reuters

The post Matthew Perry Laid To Rest In LA, Mourned By Friends first appeared on NMH.

In the 1958 film, the Agony and The Ecstasy (which has nothing to do with masculine shortcoming and the cure), Charlton Heston plays Michaelangelo, the famed 16th-century sculpture/artist commissioned by Pope Julius II (Rex Harrison) to paint the Sistine Chapel. Not the Nippon type of painting, but an actual art piece that has since become a major draw in the Vatican City, next to whichever eminent person is being driven around in Popemobile.

While at it, Heston becomes passionately embroiled in an argument with the Pope (played by Rex Harrison), him being a true-blue artist and Pope wanting “messages”. This was the beginning of art vs ideology or commerce, or crowd-pulling stunts.

The Director And His Art

This issue became the focus of the talk given recently by once famed Indian director from the Tamil film industry, Agathiyan, when he came down to Kuala Lumpur. The talk was jointly organized by the Malaysian Tamil Writers Association and Malaysia Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan Art Council.

Agathiyan should be both lauded and blamed for what had happened to the 90s Tamil film industry. In 1996, he directed and released Kathal Kottai (Fort of Love) which was a huge success. The plot revolves the (and this is pre-online social media, mind you) a couple who had never met each other but fell in love anyway through epistles corresponded. Yes, plain letter writing was the mode of communication between lovers separated by distance and duty.

It was, to borrow from the Scorpion (band), a “Wind of Change” for the industry. Till then, the Tamil film factory was churning out macho stuff, masculine idol worshipping (to which it has since returned to, sadly) and what they call “masala” (spice mix) fares

Agathiyan, who took inspiration from the likes of the earlier generations of filmmakers like Sridhar, Bheem Singh, K. S. Gopalakrishnan, K. Balachander and John Mahendran, among others, who put strong storytelling before techniques and circus freak shows, went on the path of an auteur in ensuring that a moving tale comes first, before garnishing and dessert.

For better or worse, Kathal Kottai twisted and turned the industry around and a slew of inspired romance flicks started crowding the industry. His follow-up was a better film in my book, Gokkulatthil Seethai. Agathiyan had his shot, and then, he disappeared into almost obscurity.

The Agony Of Art And Literature On Screen

This was asked diplomatically during the Q&A session, and he was quite forthright in admitting that he doesn’t belong to the profit-margin-based industry, where small discerning films can slip and fall in an open manhole in the steaming industrious business.

The literature guys (and gals) in the audience then proceeded to ask him about the role of literature platform in cinema, as there have been many good novels which were remade into films.

Aside: Agathiyan also wrote a novel, Kalanthorum Kaveri which was brought to the event, which he didn’t hard-sell, proving that he is not much of a salesperson, just an artist. End of aside.

Being a writer himself, he expressed his disdain and noted that there were some notable, noble attempts in the past, where even a commercially successful director A. Bhimsingh directed the award-winning novel, Sila Neranggalil Sila Manithargal, but they are far and few in between.

Indeed, my own favourite Tamil film director, Mahendran, turned a short story into a marvelous feature-length film in 1978, Mullum Malarum, that showed the performer side of the now superstar, Rajinikanth — one that will never be seen again as he himself got lost in the commercial commotion.

Agathiyan didn’t bad mouth his peers, though. In fact, he gave samples of scenes from proper literature adapted by the non-copyright respecting Tamil film directors in their films. Yes, unacknowledged, therefore ensuring literature will always be in the shadow of the gigantic cinematic. Of course, knowing that those were inspired will only diminish the greatness of those commercial directors.

Views From Our Shores

On behalf of the Malaysian Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan Art Council and, the Malaysian Indian production platform, director K. Vijeyasingham spoke at length on the need for quality content, as opposed to just crowd-pleasing puff pieces. He is releasing his first feature film, Kathal Athu Ragasiyamanathu, this month and is anxious if the audience are willing to take up on his content-heavy film, which is devoid of all those popcorn shebangs. Our own Tamil language films are mostly made up of more crowd-pleasing genres like thrillers and action (albeit with poor production quality, poorer performance and if I list other poor attributes they have to collect from charitable bodies).

The event was small, inconspicuous, served only tea, coffee and a few types of Kuihs. It is that small. But the matters discussed were big, heavy, spicy and sweet. Some, which could be too sensitive to be put on record here. It is relevant though considering the trend around the world, with the success of the Marvel films in Hollywood, the ginormous productions in India like Bahubali and the soon-to-be-released Ponniyin Selvan, as well as Malaysian own budget through-the-ceiling flicks like Mat Kilau, which are going to sideline the smaller, content heavy films (Watch out for this space for an interview with Malaysian veteran filmmaker Anwardi Jamil who gives his take on the dangers of big films overshadowing smaller flicks)

Going back to the agony and ecstasy analogy. True artists (whatever that means) experience agony, may it be when creating their art pieces, or when they feel unappreciated. But the ecstasy part always goes to the audience, the revellers. Especially when they outlive the creator.

Directors like Agathiyan may live a frustrated life, with a career that was put on temporary lull by commercial greed, but he gave assurance that there is still room for appreciation for the aesthetical side of filmmaking. He may be back, once the audience are tired of big-budget bonanzas and bamboozling publicity spittle all over the place. It’s always the storyteller, not the showman who the crowd takes seriously. — NMH

About the writer: Rakesh Kumar is a writer, scriptwriter, and a film aficionado, who is four years and nine months clean and sober. And counting.

The points expressed in this article are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the stand of the NMH.

The post Agony and Ecstacy: The Celluloid Warfare between Art And Commerce first appeared on NMH.

Malaysian films have some sort of self-limiting explorative nature. Genres can be visited but they are mostly restricted to Malay films. Films industries existing outside of behemoths like Hollywood, Bollywood (and its non-Hindi language sub-industries) and Hong Kong are usually more invested in making films that reflect their respective country’s culture and sociopolitical scenarios. 

As such, it is very daring for a Malaysian filmmaker to make Senthozhan Sengkathirvaanan, a Tamil film within the confines of a psychological thriller asylum – because it would be a mad business decision. 

Yet, first-time director Govind Singh pulled off a quiet, grounded, “don’t-wake-the-baby-up” serene Tamil language Malaysian-made thriller flick that has its moments and is certainly desirable for more. 

This review is a follow-up of the premier show on 24 July in TSR Cinemax Shah Alam, quite a grand affair where contributors were honoured and the self-congratulatory gesture was a mass proceeding -– where many were honoured on stage, with most recognised for being reasons for the existence of the film to the point that some may have direct connections to the Lumiere brothers.  

The filmmakers and stars also thanked audiences – made of mostly those in the “industry” or involved with the film – and were given tips on how not to have the film taken out of the cinema due to poor run. Support, encouragement, buying tickets by block – but nothing can stop the audience from moving their butts from home to the theatre hall if actual words of mouth are not encouraging.  

Anyway, since I was involved during the post-production of Senthozhan Sengkathirvaanan writing the subtitles, this is my second viewing perhaps with some tweaking involved. Nothing much changed except for the additions of various production companies’ names before the title credit that allowed time to rush out to get more popcorn or return missed calls. 

The story written by Govind and Vino Chandra centres on a somewhat aloof, strange, and, as we find out later, slightly deranged, off-the-centre-of-gravity dude by the name of Kathir played by Kash Villanz, who does some err…computer thingy – we have that scene of his fingers sailing across keyboards with nothing happening on the monitor. 

Who cares about the profession, much effort was taken by the filmmaker and writer to enhance the protagonist’s eccentricity, including the part where he shaves with a chopper (the knife, not the bike). He drinks booze aplenty and could have benefitted from product placements with brands like Johnny Walker, Ballantine and the likes in full display.

Then, as it is wont with Tamil films that couldn’t shake off romances in any genre like a wet canine, a girl gets interested in him – in this case, our heroine, played with gusto by Moon Nila, who ventures out to find out about our hero’s dark past even though he seems like a nice guy at one time and big time jerk in another. Boy, one itches to know his origin story, no?

So, we have unconventional behaviour on Kathir’s part, prompting the girl to snoop around, and some secondary plot involving a querulous couple next door – which is parallel to the hero’s abusive childhood.

Anyway, Moon Nila (whose name I am sure is not copy-pasted from a Google Translate result) is a formidable force in this flick. She had a skeleton to work with but worked on her additional skillset to add the pounds of flesh, with an ounce of pathos, a pinch of feminism, a fracas of humour, a frantic amount of courage and conviction that would make us care for enough to consider her falling for the jerk-hero as a minor misdemeanour.

If not for her character’s concern for the hero, we never would care for him, so she had quite a task ahead of her – the venture that was let down by the usual Tamil film affliction:  flashback-isitis. There was just one too many, but most of the current Tamil films are mostly never made without them – the audience are so used to it that they are not aware of it, like global warming. 

Despite what the film had promised, violence is far and few in between, and mostly in the background. The danger element are supposedly present throughout, but our butts are in no way going to the edge of the seat – it feels like reaching for the ceiling but touching the top of the cupboard instead. 

Another reason to watch this thriller flick is for the soundtrack, which was composed entirely by Kash Villanz. Before the teaser release, the producers released 3 tracks from this movie on the vhommiez Youtube channel. The first track is sung by Kash Villanz himself titled, Mudhal Mura, followed by Pasi Thookam Panjam and Yathey sung by Ganesan Manoghran and Kishen Dass, Michael Rao respectively.

This film will find its audience who had not watched earlier Tamil films like Sigappu Rojakkal (1979) or Puthiya Paravai (1964)– both of which explored the protagonist’s source and consequences of derangement and been influential with all those “psycho” characters appearing in Tamil films ever since.

All in all, the production quality is pretty good for a limited budget Malaysian fare – far more limited than the bigger Malay language films, of course, but that shouldn’t stop quality exuding from the writing and performances. 

A potential that may appeal to audiences who are tired of the usual “safe” Malaysian Tamil entries on small screens especially.

But don’t let that hamper your viewing experience. I thoroughly enjoyed Moon Nila’s performance – she inhabited her role like a comfortable glove and took us for a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride – for that reason alone it’s worth sitting through the film.

Senthozhan Sengkathirvaanan produced by Govind and Kash Villanz himself will also be featuring popular Malaysian talents like Shamini, Cellina Jay and Chandinie Kaur.

All in all, Senthozhan Sengkathirvaanan is a passable thriller, and certainly a laudable entry from the microscopic Malaysian Tamil film industry. This psychological thriller will be screened in cinemas nationwide on 28 July 2022 onwards!

The post Senthozhan Sengkathirvaanan: The Daze, The Deranged And The Dame first appeared on NMH.